Main
Nils Ratnaweera
Formal education
Master of Science ZFH in Life Sciences, Specialisation in Natural Ressource Sciences
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
N/A
2017 - 2014
Master Thesis: Analysing flight behaviour of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) using GPS and accelerometer data
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Sciences, Specialisation in Nature Management
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
N/A
2013 - 2009
Bachelor Thesis: Analysing wildcat habitat connectivity in the prealps
Commercial apprenticeship (Kaufmännische Lehre mit Berufsmatura)
AXA Winterthur
N/A
2006 - 2003
Employment
Research fellow ZHAW
Permanent position in the Geoinformatics Research Group
N/A
now - 2019
- Working on research projects as a spatial data scientist using R, Python, SQL, ArcGIS and QGIS to analyse geodata
- Project leader
- Teaching GIS, R and Python to bachelor and master students
Research assistant ZHAW
Temporary position in the Geoinformatics Research Group
N/A
2019 - 2016
- Working on research projects as a spatial data analyst using R, Python, SQL, ArcGIS and QGIS to analyse geodata
- Teaching GIS and R to bachelor students
Deputy project lead (part time)
Wiesel & Co am Zimmerberg
N/A
2021 - 2013
- GIS
- Applied research
- IT infrastructure (Server, Website, Database, Django-Application…)
Cunsultant aviation insurances
AXA Winterthur Aviation insurances
N/A
- Offer insurance coverage of single aircraft and fleets
- Issue contracts and certificates and calculate premiums
- Develop automation tools
2008 - 2006
Portfolio
Much of my recent work is publicly accessible. Some project highlights ( refers to the report, to the source code):
Evaluating the project Wiesel & Co am Zimmerberg
Evaluating the success of measures implemented by Wiesel & Co am Zimmerberg by monitoring multiple locations and analysing datasets from different sources.
erfolgskontrolle.wieselundco.ch
github.com/wieselundco
My contribution as project lead:
N/A
2021 - 2019
- Planning and execution of the sampling design
- Combining and analysing data from different sources
- Evaluating and visualizing results, writing the report
Python and R for Environmental Scientists (BA / MA)
Teaching Python and R in the context of GIS and spatial data science to bachelor and master students:
Applied Geoinformatics: Modul-AGI.github.io
Research Methods: ResearchMethods-ZHAW.github.io
CMA: ComputationalMovementAnalysis.github.io
My contribution:
N/A
2021 - 2016
- Teaching the theory and concepts (module Applied Geoinformatics)
- Developing and publishing the exercises, providing sample solutions
- Mentoring, supervising and grading projects
Detecting micro habitat structures with LiDAR
Initiating and supervising a bachelorthesis to develop a method which detects micro habitat structures (wood piles) with LiDAR (swissSurface3D) in order to model habitat quality / connectivity for least weasels and stoats.
bit.ly/3FU2rgz
My contribution:
N/A
2020
- Formulating research questions and goals
- Mentoring and supervising the student, providing technical input
Preventing wildlife vehicle collisions
Modelling the risk of wildlife vehicle collision for the whole of Switzerland based on collision reports from three different cantons. zhaw.ch/iunr/wildtierunfaelle
mobilityplatform.ch
github.zhaw.ch/ASTRA
My contribution:
N/A
2020 - 2015
- Processing accident reports (determine species information with NLP, geolocating data and map matching)
- Spatial modelling of hotspots and accident related parameters
- Spatial comparison of model predictions
